| L'Equipe a French sports journalist initiated | | | | participating shot up from eight teams to |
| the "European Cup" in the year of 1955. The | | | | thirty-two teams. Now, even clubs that finish |
| tournament was formally known as "The | | | | from second to fourth in the most competitive |
| European Cup" and was renamed "The UEFA | | | | domestic leagues are also eligible to |
| Champions League" during the 1992-1993 | | | | participate in the tournament. UEFA |
| season. The competition is now managed by the | | | | coefficient is the basis on which the |
| Union of European Football Association | | | | associations are ranked. This is done to |
| (UEFA). It is a seasonal competition where 32 | | | | obtain the number of places in the |
| of the best clubs from all over Europe | | | | competition for every association. The |
| compete to become the best soccer club in the | | | | tournament is divided into stages: The group |
| whole of Europe. The clubs compete to achieve | | | | stage: qualifying stage. The knockout stage: |
| the most coveted title in football, "The | | | | second round, quarter, semi and the finals. |
| European Champion Clubs Cup" as it is now | | | | The group stage consists of eight groups each |
| known. The matches take place on Tuesdays and | | | | comprising of four teams. In the group stages |
| Wednesdays all around Europe. The winners of | | | | the teams have to qualify against three other |
| this tournament qualify for the International | | | | teams to make it to the top of the group. The |
| Cup, which is played against the winners of | | | | first and second teams in each group qualify |
| South America's official league "Copa | | | | to play the second round, which is a knockout |
| Libertadores". Real Madrid CF was the first | | | | round. Each team has to play twice, (once at |
| team to win the European Cup, since then they | | | | home and once away) at every stage except the |
| have won the league eight times. This | | | | finals. The final does not have the two-leg |
| includes the five consecutive wins from | | | | system. The venue for the final is decided by |
| 1955-1956 to 1959-1960. So what is it that | | | | UEFA two years in advance. The introduction |
| makes the tournament so special? The top | | | | of the group stages helped clubs and players |
| domestic clubs of every European country that | | | | alike to learn and understand the way clubs |
| are members of the UEFA are allowed to play | | | | and players of various other nations played |
| the game. The only country not participating | | | | soccer. Why do people love to watch the UEFA |
| in the competition has been Liechtenstein, as | | | | Champions League? The UEFA Champions League |
| they do not have a domestic league. The game | | | | is the best place where millions of people |
| has evolved a lot since L'Equipe initiated | | | | get to watch their favourite players like |
| it. He wanted to have an all-European club | | | | Cristiano Ronado, Ronaldinho, Ricardo Izecson |
| competition while the UEFA's founder members | | | | dos Santos Leite, well known as Kaka in |
| wanted to have an all-European national | | | | action. People not only get to watch their |
| competition. In 1992-1993 not only did the | | | | favorite players but they also get to watch |
| name of the tournament change, the way it was | | | | the best clubs from all over Europe compete |
| organized was also different. An initial | | | | against each other throughout the year. |
| group stage was introduced in addition to the | | | | |
| knockout matches, and a qualifying round was | | | | Bob Zenoti is a freelance writer of various |
| introduced. This was done so that more teams | | | | on-line content. He has recently provided |
| from other nations of Europe could | | | | content for a soccer fan site for Cristiano |
| participate. The number of teams | | | | Ronaldo. |